Demountable self-locking container



Aug. 18, 1964 w, F. KNABE DEMOUNTABLE SELF-LOCKING CONTAINER 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 15, 1962 United States Patent Corporation,Chula Vista, Calif, a corporation of California Filed Mar. 15, 1962,Ser. No. 179,994 1 Claim. (Cl. 217-65) This invention relates generallyto packing boxes of the so-called cleated panel type wherein the wallsof the box are in the form of plywood panels, or the like, which arereinforced at the corners by cleats.

More specifically, the present invention is directed to a demountableself-locking container of this cleated panel type wherein the panels andcleats are so constructed and arranged as to render the panelsinterlocking, when assembled, whereby nails, or the like, fasteners arenot required to retain the same in assembled relationship, and simplelocking bands may be employed to secure the panels in such relationshipduring shipment. By reason of this construction and arrangement,moreover, the box becomes readily demountable to expedite and facilitatedischarge of its contents, and the disassembled panels may readily becompacted for return shipment and reuse to thus take advantage of thelower rates afforded shippers in the return of empty cartons.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improveddemountable knockdown type cleated Shipping carton.

Another object is to provide a paneled shipping container of this typehaving provision for self-locking of the panels when assembled together.

Another object resides in the provision of simple means for retainingthe self-locking panels in assembled relationship during shipment.

Still another object is to provide a cleated panel shipping box in whichthe panels are readily assembled, or partially assembled, to receive theobjects of shipment, and are readily demountable or knocked down todischarge the contents.

Yet another object is to provide a cleated panel shipping containerwhich is held with the panels in assembled relationship withoutrequiring fastening means between the adjacent panels.

A further object is to provide an interlocking cleated panel box whichis readily assembled, disassembled, and compacted for return shipment.

Still other objects, features, and advantages of the present inventionare those inherent in the novel construction and arrangement of partscomprising the shipping container hereinafter disclosed with referenceto the drawings, the cleated panel box as thus disclosed beingconstructed in accordance with the best mode thus far devised forpracticing the principles of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a prospective view of the cleated panel box fully assembled,banded, and ready for shipment.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a corner portion of the box asseen along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 33 of FIG. 1and illustrating the interlocking relationship between the end and toppanels of the box;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and shows the relationship betweenthe panels when the top panel has been lifted from the box;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the lines 55 of FIG.1 and showing the interlocking relationship between the top and sidepanels of the box;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 and showing the relationship betweenthe panels when the top panel has been lifted from the box;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the 3,144,951Patented Aug. 18, 1964 lines 77 of FIG. 1 and showing the interlockingrelationship between the side and end panels of the box;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 and showing the relationship betweenthe panels when the side panel has been withdrawn from the end panel;

FIG. 9 is an end view of the panels of the box, certain of which areshown partly in section, and showing the same compacted for returnshipment; and

FIGS. 10 to 13; FIGS. 14 to 17; FIGS. 18 to 21; and FIGS. 22 to 25 aregroups of views illustrating first, second, third, and fourthalternative interlocking corner structures, the views of each group, inthe numerical order of the views in each group, corresponding to FIGS.2, 4, 6 and 8 which disclose the interlocking corner structure andarrangements for the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference is nowmade to the accompanying drawings wherein the same reference charactersare applied to the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

With particular reference first to FIG. 1, it will be seen that thepanel box, generally designated 10, of the present invention comprisesoppositely disposed and cleated bottom and top panels designated B andT; oppositely disposed and cleated side panels designated S, only one ofwhich appears in FIG. 1; and oppositely disposed and cleated end panelsdesignated E, again, only one of which appears in FIG. 1. The cleatedbottom and top panels B and T are identical. Both cleated side panels Sare identical; and likewise, both of the cleated end panels E areidentical. It will suffice herein, therefore, to described in detailonly one each of these pairs of oppositely disposed and cleated panels.

Referring now more particularly to the top cleated panel T, it will beseen that it comprises per se a panel 11 to the face of which issuitably fastened end cleats 12 and side cleats 13, these being arrangedin perimeter fashion with respect to the edges of panel 11. Also securedto the face of panel 11 are intermediately disposed cleats 14 which likethe end cleats 12, bridge the space between the side cleats 13. A secondset of cleats, disposed perpendicularly to the face of panel 11,comprise end cleats 15 and side cleats 16 arranged in perimeter fashionwith respect to corresponding end and side cleats 12 and 13 to whichthey are secured by suitable means. Side cleats 16 extend in overlappingrelationship with respect to the end cleats 15 which, in turn, extendtherebetween to bridge the space between the side cleats. The cleatspreferably are rigidly retained in this relationship by means of thecorner straps 17 which are secured to the cleats 15 and 16 as by thestaples 18.

Each of the cleated side panels S comprises per se a panel 19 to theface of which are suitably secured a pair of spaced cleats 20 whichextend in bridging relation to the side cleats 16 of the top and bottomcleated panels T and B. Cleats 20 are aligned perimeterwise with thecleats 14- of the cleated top and bottom panels T and B so as to providesupport for the steel locking bands 21 which preferably employtherebeneath suitable pressure pads 22 to protect the cleats 16 at theircorners. Each cleated side panel S also comprises horizontally disposedcleats 23, the center one of which bridges the space between cleats 20of the panel. Each of the outer cleats 23 bridges the space between itsassociated cleat 2t) and a side cleat 24 of the oppositely disposed andcleated end panels E, each of which per se comprises a panel 25.

Side cleats 24 of each cleated end panel E extend perpendicularly to theface of their panel 25 and in bridging relation to the side cleats 16 ofthe cleated top and bottom panels T and B. The side cleats 24 of eachside panel E, moreover, are suitably secured to side cleats 26 which inturn and together with intermediate cleat 27, are suitably secured tothe face of panel 25. Cleats 26 and 27 extend into abutment with the endcleats 15 of the cleated top and bottom panels T and B, and these cleats26 and 27, moreover, are joined in abutting relationship withhorizontally disposed cleats 28.

As may best be seen in FIG. 2, each panel 11 of the top and bottomcleated panels T and B is spaced inwardly from the side and end cleats15 and 16 to thus provide grooves or sockets for interlockinglyreceiving the panels 19 and 25 of the cleated side and end panels S andE respectively. It will be noted that the edge of panel 25 is spacedfrom cleat 16 by the thickness of the panel 19 which is thus receivedinterfittingly into the recess or socket formed by this edge of panel 25and cleats 15 and 16. Similarly, as best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, thissocket for receiving panel 19 extends upwardly between the bottom andtop cleated panels B and T, being continued and formed upwardly by theedge of panel 25 and cleats 24 and 26. The manner in which the sidepanels 25 are each received into the socket formed by the top panel 11and cleats 12 and 15 of the cleated top panel T may best be seen inFIGS. 3 and 4. Similarly the manner in which the side panels 19 are eachreceived into the socket formed by the top panel 11 and cleats 13 and 16of the cleated top panel T may best be seen in FIGS. and 6.

In the use of box 10, the bottom cleated panel B may be used as a palletand the objects to be shipped may be mounted thereon after which, orduring which, the side and end panels may be slipped into theperimetrically extending socket provided therefor within the base orbottom panel B. Alternatively, the box may be assembled, save for thetop cleated panel T and the contents to be shipped stored in the boxafter which the top panel may be applied and the bands 21 secured inplace. In any event, the order of assembly of the panels of the box isnot important. What is significant, however, is that once assembled, theadjacent panels are mutually interlocked one to the other by theprovision of the sockets in the bottom and top cleated panels B and Tfor receiving the side and end panels 19 and 25 and the sockets formedin the end panels E for receiving the side panels 19.

In demounting or disassembling the box, it merely becomes necessary tocut the steel bands 21 whereupon the top panel T may be removed and theside and end panels withdrawn from each other at their interlockingcorners and from the interlocking arrangement with the bottom panel B.Once disassembled, the panels may be stored in any convenient mannersuch as depicted, for example, in FIG. 9 wherein the panels aredisclosed stacked in pancake fashion, one on the other. In thearrangement shown, the side panels S are mounted in 0pposed relation atthe bottom and top of the stack with the bottom and top panels B and Tdisposed immediately adjacent thereto. The end panels E are disposed atthe center of the stack in mutually opposed relationship. The end panelsare also staggered laterally to the extent that their side cleats 26overlap to thus make possible a further compacting of the stack, panelsE and B being shown in section to more fully illustrate this possibilityand arrangement.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 to 13, there is disclosed therein analternative interlocking corner arrangement in which a perimetricallyextending metal angle member 29 is utilized in the construction ofalternative panels T and B in lieu of cleats 12, 15, and 13, 16 of thetop and bottom panels T and B of FIG. 1. Considering the cross sectionof angle member 29 as best appears in FIGS. 11 and 12, the angle membermay be considered to be made up of two members, that is, the legs orsides of the angle member respectively secured to and spaced from thepanel 11 as appears in FIG. 11 correspond to cleats 12 and as theyappear in FIG. 4. Similarly these legs or sides of the angle member, asthey appear in FIG. 12 correspond to cleats 13 and 16, as they appear inFIG. 6.

The alternative cleated end panels B, have a similar angle member 30used on each side thereof in lieu of cleats 24 and 26. In thisarrangement, the sides or legs of the angle member respectively securedto and spaced from panel 25, as seen in FIG. 13, are functionallyequivalent to and may be considered corresponding to cleats 15 and 24 asthey appear in FIG. 8. It will be noted that side panel S as it appearsin FIGS. 12 and 13, is substantially the same as side panel S of thepreferred embodiment, differing therefrom only to the extent that cleats20 and 23 may be shorter, as shown, or longer depending upon the legwidth of angle numbers 29 and 30 which become abutted therewith uponassembly of the panels.

In the alternative arrangement of FIGS. 14 to 17, cleats 12 and 13of'the preferred embodiment are dispensed with and cleats 15 and 16,although retained, are secured to the face of panel 11 perimetricallyaround the edge portion thereof. To form the perimetrically extendingsocket for retaining panels 19 and 25, a pair of additional smallercleats 31 and 32 are secured to the panel 11 and spaced from cleats 15and 16 respectively in an amount corresponding to the thickness ofpanels 25 and 19. The manner in which these panels are received withinthe socket thus formed, best appears in FIGS. 15 and 16.

A similar arrangement of cleats is utilized to provide an interlockingrelationship between end panels E and side panels S as seen in FIG. 17..In this arrangement, the cleats 26 of the preferred embodiment aredeleted and cleats 24, although used, are secured to the face of panel25 in the region of oppositely disclosed edge portions thereof. Thesocket for each panel 19 is formed by means of another, smaller, cleat33 which is secured to panel 25 and spaced from cleat 24 by thethickness of panel 19. This interlocking arrangement is thus thefunctional equivalent of that disclosed in FIG. 8.

A variation of the interlocking arrangement disclosed in FIGS. 14 to 17is disclosed in FIGS. 22 to 25 wherein a channel member, which may beconsidered to be perimetrically continuous, provides the same functionand generally a similar construction to that afiorded by cleats 15, 16and 31, 32, as disclosed in FIG. 14. In the arrangement of top andbottom panels T and B the inner and outer sides or legs of channelmember 34 may be considered to correspond to cleats 31, 32 and 15, 16,these being joined at the base of the channel member which, in turn, issecured to the panel 11. In this light, the similarity between theinterlocking arrangements as disclosed in FIGS. 23 and 24 to those ofFIGS. 15 and 16, will become at once apparent.

In the interlocking arrangement between the side and end panels 8., andE as disclosed in FIG. 25, a similar channel member 35 is employed,there being two of these secured respectively to the oppositely disposededge portions of panel 25. The similarity of this arrangement to thatdisclosed in FIG. 17 may also be significantly noted.

In FIGS. 18 to 21, a panel interlocking arrangement similar to that ofFIGS. 14 to 17 is disclosed in that, again, cleats 12 and 13 of thepreferred embodiment of FIG. 1 are dispensed with and, although cleats15 and 16 are utilized, these are secured to the face of panel 11, as inFIGS. 14 to 16. In lieu of cleats 31 and 32, however, a perimetricallyextending angle member 36 is employed. One leg of this member isdisposed between panel 11 and cleats 15 and 16 and the other leg thereofis spaced from these cleats and extends upwardly from the face of panel11, as appears in FIG. 18. A perimetrically extending socket in panel Band T is thus provided for receiving the upper and lower edge portionsof panels 19 and 25, this arrangement being best seen in FIGS. 19 and20.

In the interlocking arrangement for side and end panels S and E;,, asdisclosed in FIG. 1, a similar angle member 37 is used together with anassociated cleat 24 on oppositely disposed edge portions of end panel 25to provide a locking socket for receiving the edge portion of panel 19of cleated side panels S this being generally in the manner of thearrangement of FIG. 17 wherein the functional effect of cleat 33 informing the socket is replaced by the upstanding leg of angle member 37.

In the foregoing construction, it will be understood that suitable means(not shown) for securing the various cleat means or members thereof toeach other, or to the associated panel, may be employed as skill in theart requires in each case. For example, the panels 11, 19, andpreferably are made of plywood, and cleats 12, 13, 15, 16, 20, 23, 24,and 26 to 28 preferably are formed of wood. Accordingly, cleats 15, 16,and 24 which are respectively secured to cleats 12, 13, and 26preferably are fastened thereto as by nails. Similarly, cleats 12 to 14,secured to panel 11, cleats 20 and 23, secured to panel 19, and cleats26 to 28, secured to panel 25, preferably are fastened thereto by nails,al though it will be understood that these cleats could be bonded orotherwise secured to their respective panels. Similarly, theinterlocking cleat means disclosed in FIGS. 10 to 24 may similarly besecured to their respective panels, this being accomplished, frorexample, as by use of nails, screws, staples, bolts, and likefastenings, or by bonding, as aforementioned.

From the foregoing it should now be apparent that a knockdown,interlocking cleated panel box construction has been provided which iswell adapted to fulfill the aforestated objects of the invention. Morespecifically, it will be apparent that there has been provided aconstruction and arrangement of preformed separable side, end, top, andbottom panels adapted for interlocking assembly together to form a fullystructurally integrated box wherein the assembled interlocked panels ofthe box may be secured as by bands to lock the same together as aunitary structure. The cleat means comprising the interlocking structureat the corners, in accordance with the several constructions disclosed,provides sockets for interfittingly receiving the panels disclosedadjacent thereto at the corners of the box. Generally speaking, thecleated means secured to certain of the preformed and separable panelsof the box serve to reinforce the same at the corners thereof when thepanels are assembled while additionally providing for interlockingengagement between adjacent panels thereby to structurally integrate thebox, the arrangement being such that the corner cleated end panelsinterlock the side panels and the corner cleated top and bottom panelsserve to interlock the side and end panels, this interlockingarrangement between the cleated panels being functionally the sameregardless of which of the several interlocking constructions hereindisclosed may be employed to accomplish this interlocking function.

It will be understood, moreover, that this invention may be embodied inother forms or carried out in other ways without departing from thespirit or essential characteristics thereof. The preferred andalternative embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed,therefore, are to be considered as in all respects illustrative and notrestrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appendedclaim and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claim are intended to be embraced therein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and useful anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a knockdown box formed of interlocking wood panel and wood cleatconstruction, the combination of preformed separable side, end, top andbottom panels assembled together with engaging edge portions of adjacentpanels to form said box therefrom, said side panels being identical,said end panels being identical, said top and bottom panels beingidentical, said panels each having cleat means secured thereto andeffective to reinforce said box at the corners thereof, certain of saidcleat means for said top, bottom, and end panels providing interlockingengagement at said corners for said meeting edge portions of adjacentpanels thereby to structurally integrate the box, said certain of thecleat means for each of the top and bottom panels forming therewith aperimetrically extending socket having edge portions of said side andend panels received therewithin, said certain of the cleat means foreach of said end panels forming a pair of sockets having edge portionsof said side panels respectively received therewithin, and at least onemetal band extended perimetrically of the box for locking the assembledpanels together as a unitary structure, said certain cleat means foreach of said top and bottom panels comprising first and second sets ofperimetrically extending cleats of identical rectangular cross section,the cleats of the first set being respectively spaced from the edges ofthe associated panel each with its confronting longer cross sectionalface disposed parallel to the edge face of the panel to form one of saidperimetrically extending sockets therebetween, the cleats of the secondset being secured respectively to the cleats of the first set and to theface of said associated panel, each cleat of said second set having itsshorter cross sectional face secured to said longer cross sectional faceof the associated cleat of the first set and having its longer crosssectional face secured to said face of the associated panel, saidcertain cleat means for each of said end panels comprising at each ofthe side panel engaging ends thereof a first end cleat spaced from anedge of an associated end panel to form one of said sockets forreceiving said edge portions of the side panels and a sec end end cleatsecured to the first end cleat and to the face of the associated endpanel, said first and second end cleats having identical rectangularcross sections, said first end cleat having its confronting longer crosssectional face disposed parallel to the edge face of its associated endpanel, said second cleat having its shorter cross sectional face securedto said longer cross sectional face of the first cleat and having itslonger cross sectional face secured to its associated end panel, saidcleat means comprising at least one intermediate cleat secured to eachof the top, bottom, side and end panels, each said intermediate cleatfor each panel extending into abutting engagement at each end thereofwith one of the cleats of said first and second sets of perimetricallyextending cleats, and certain of said intermediate cleats being alignedperimetrically of the box and disposed beneath said metal band.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS759,961 Beems May 17, 1904- 772,149 Hunt Oct. 11, 1904 944,146 NeuvilleDec. 21, 1909 1,661,527 De Boer Mar. 6, 1928 1,884,062 McSweeney Oct.25, 1932 2,071,096 Weber Feb. 16, 1937 2,578,644 Mautner Dec. 11, 19512,939,601 Evans et al. June 7, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 192,847 Austria Nov.11, 1957 545,024 Great Britain May 7, 1942

